Anan Saigon, Sài Gòn

Fancy pants but with a great sense of humour

Probably the best entrance to a Michelin starred restaurant anywhere in the world.

Not only can Anan Saigon lay claim to being Vietnam’s first Michelin-starred restaurant, but it is also the world’s only Michelin-starred sit-down restaurant found in a working wet market. (And yes, Michelin is bullshit, and no, I’m not including the various hawker stalls and noodle joints now peppering southeast Asian Michelin guides because none of them do tasting menus.)

So let’s start by getting the elephant out of the room: Anan is not cheap. It’s inexpensive by international tasting menu standards, but not in terms of local income. But if you’re in Sài Gòn and are looking to treat yourself, look no further — my Anan experience was one of the best meals I’ve had in the last five years, and I have to stop myself from going back every time I pass through the city.